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NYU to Host Provincetown Playhouse Open House on Saturday, Dec. 11

November 29, 2010
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New York University will host an open house at the newly refurbished Provincetown Playhouse, 133 MacDougal Street, on Sat., Dec. 11 from noon to 5 p.m. The public is invited to tour the historic theatre and enjoy light refreshments and live piano music, all free.

A new exhibition, designed in conjunction with C&G Partners, LLC, will be unveiled at the event. The exhibition, on view in Playhouse’s lobby, tells the story of the theatre using archival images of some of the most famous playwrights, actors, and productions that are part of the theatre’s near 100-year history. The exhibition also includes a map of Greenwich Village, featuring images of the artistic scene around the neighborhood over the last century.

From playwrights Eugene O’Neill and Susan Glaspell in the early 20th century, to Edward Albee and George Bernard Shaw at mid-century, and to Sam Shepard, David Mamet, and Charles Busch in more recent years, the Provincetown Playhouse has been one of the most significant theatres in American theatre history.

“We’re thrilled to re-open the doors of the Provincetown Playhouse to the Greenwich Village community and invite our neighbors inside to see the terrific improvements that have been made to this historic theatre,” said Mary Brabeck, dean of NYU’s Steinhardt School. “I’m proud of what we accomplished in preserving the original theatre’s walls, in renovating and upgrading it, and improving its handicapped accessibility. We’re grateful for the hard work and support of our partners, NYU School of Law and the Wilf family, in making this project a success. Current and future members of the community will benefit from the Playhouse’s artistic productions for years to come.”

In 1998, the Playhouse became a performance and educational venue for New York University’s academic programs in educational theatre and vocal performance in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. Renovations in 2010 preserved the Playhouse’s only remaining original feature—its brick walls—and refurbished the mid-century seat end standards, restored the exterior to its 1940 facade, and updated the 88-seat theatre’s seating, lighting and sound controls, and air handling. Productions in the Playhouse, all open to the public, are inspired by and honor the legacy of this cultural landmark.

Reporters interested in attending should call Tim Farrell, NYU Office of Public Affairs, by phone at 212.998.6797 or by email, Tim.Farrell@nyu.edu.